NHRA: Rookie drivers are an eclectic crop

POMONA - The eight NHRA rookie drivers eligible for the 2012 Auto Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award, including Southern California's Courtney Force and Alexis DeJoria, are an eclectic mix with a dash of international intrigue.

Force is the daughter of 15-time Funny Car champion John Force. Her older sister Ashley received the award five years ago and teammates Robert Hight and Mike Neff were so honored in 2005 and 2008, respectively.

DeJoria is the daughter of business tycoon and philanthropist John Paul DeJoria, owner of Paul Mitchell Hair Care Products, Patron Tequila, and John Paul Pet Products, who once went on her own diplomatic trip to Korea.

Another candidate, Khalid al Balooshi, is a 45-year-old native of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, who lives in Los Angeles and races with the backing of Qatar's Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Thani. Two 40-something Pro Stock Motorcycle riders, John Hall and Scotty Pollacheck, hail from opposite coasts and race for a team based in Americus, Ga., with additional funding from Hungarian sugar distributor Jen Rujp. Funny Car's Todd Lesenko, the elder statesman of the rookie group at age 49, is from St. Albert, Alberta, in Canada.

A pair of Southerners rounds out the group: Texan Chris McGaha, a Pro Stock driver from Odessa who's a 17-year sportsman-level Comp Eliminator class veteran, and ambitious Virginian Blake Alexander, who owns his his own team and has a huge passion to put his business and communication education from Radford University to work in drag racing.

The Road to the Future Award recipient, recognized as the top rookie competitor in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, will be announced Monday, following the Auto Club NHRA Finals.

The honor, which comes with a $20,000 prize and traditional trophy, will be presented during the NHRA's awards ceremony at the Hollywood and Highland Center in Los Angeles.

More than 150 of the nation's leading auto-racing journalists selected the winner through a voting system based on the number of events entered, performance on and off the track, participation in NHRA promotions and relationships with fans, sponsors and media.

Most visible have been the women. Force, 24, of Yorba Linda, is the only nitro-class rookie to qualify for the Countdown to the Championship.

She won in August at Seattle in only her 15th start, after runner-up finishes in July at Chicago and Denver. She also drove her Traxxas Ford Mustang to the No. 1 starting positions at Indianapolis and Dallas.

"Three of my teammates have won this award, and I would love to be able to carry on this special tradition at John Force Racing," she said. "I am not the only rookie on the Traxxas Ford Mustang team. This award would be recognition for my whole team, and we will continue to work hard to prove that we deserve it."

DeJoria is at once a comparison and distinct contrast to Force. A 34-year-old single mother of a 9-year-old girl, the Topanga resident and Tequila Patron Toyota Camry driver has modeled, traveled the world, flown a fighter jet, raced in the Baja 1000 off-road grind, has embraced a staggering number of charitable causes, and advocated for baby seals aboard the Sea Shepherd conservation vessel in the frigid Canadian Maritimes.

Inside her Funny Car, she is just as intense. That paid off with a runner-up showing in June at Bristol, Tenn.

And out of the car, she and Force are friends. They text each other for encouragement. Said Force, "It's great to have another friend, cheering each other on. We definitely learn from each other." Echoed DeJoria, "I like Courtney a lot. I really admire her drive, her passion for the sport. I can relate to that, for sure."